Birth injuries stemming from medical malpractice may be one of the most
devastating and emotionally distressing types of cases that we have ever
encountered. Not only does it take a thorough understanding of the patient’s
legal rights with respect to applicable laws, but also have some knowledge
or connection to the medical procedures involved.
Medical malpractice is often linked to the doctor or nurse’s inaction
to prevent an accident or another issue that caused the baby’s injuries
or death. One of the most common types of birth injuries cases involve
brain injuries to an infant. This can happen when the baby is deprived
of oxygen, such as in cases where the umbilical cord wraps around the
baby, cutting off oxygen delivery. It can also occur due to severe blood loss.
Brain injuries can result in the following:
- Brain damage
- Lifelong seizure disorder
- Cerebral palsy
- Mental impairment or disability
How Can Injuries Be Prevented?
In a case such as the one we noted above, you might be wondering how can
one avoid such an incident, when it does seem to have occurred purely
by accident? First, doctors must anticipate complications at any given
moment, and also be prepared to respond to them. If the umbilical cord
was constricting or entrapping the infant, they might be committing malpractice
by failing to recognize this error.
Injuries can also occur during delivery and even afterward. If the doctor
is using forceps to assist with delivery and applies too much pressure
to the head, then the baby’s nerves can be damaged and result in
paralysis of the facial muscles. In some severe cases, paralysis may require
surgery to repair the damaged nerves or worse, long-term paralysis.
Have a Case? Contact Us!
To prove that malpractice occurred, we must prove that the actions of the
doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider failed to meet the applicable
standard duty of care as expected in their position, which then resulted
in the injury. Many birth injury cases can be complex cases to litigate,
but you may have a solid case due to the fact that the majority of the
injuries could have been prevented at the onset.
Glenda Cochran Associates Attorneys at Law are experienced attorneys with
more than 25 years of experience advocating for the legal rights of injury
victims. If you have a case ready to review, do not hesitate to contact
us for a free case review! (888) 906-3955